Notes

While the near bank of the river in this image looks very different today, the far bank is completely recognizable from the mountains and railroad tunnels. We're just a few miles west of Hood River, right around Ruthton Point.

This stereocard is labeled "Grandpa Hinrichs" and "John W. Hinrichs," so I'll presume that's him in the foreground. We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hinrichs before, in his role as Vice President of the First National Bank.

Comments

This is probably taken somewhere in the vicinity of where Sim and Juliet Abstene lived much later. Remember going to their home and it looks somewhat similiar down that way. Naturally this photo was taken before the damn was built as some of that land went under water.

That Ruthton hills was all carved off when the new freeway went through there, which naturally forced anyone living on that hillside to relocate. Abstenes moved to the big yellow house that is located right behind Little Bit Ranch Supply on Rand Road.

charlott on 8th March 2013 @ 7:08am

I like this photo!!!!
John Hinrichs passed away in 1915 so the photo must predate that year.

I bet they always risked planting those fields and then having them flood in the spring.
One thing the pools behind a dam eliminate are sloughs.

l.e. on 8th March 2013 @ 7:38am

Ditto, I do like this one! Wistful... No sign that I can see of the Broughton flume. Anyone know when that was built?

spinsur on 8th March 2013 @ 7:58am

The Broughton Flume started at Willard, nine miles away from the mill. It started in 1922, so after this photo was taken. I think they used it until about 1986 or so. That would have been a "wild" ride on top of a log.........

charlott on 8th March 2013 @ 8:29am

This looks like Grampa Stuck's original farm. Three generations ago, Sheldon use to tell me stories of how his grandfather had a hay farm where there is now water. This pic shows that. I recognize the basalt rock feature right in the middle of the pic(a little to the right of the tall fir tree). That rock is in the river today.

James on 8th March 2013 @ 8:55am

Where are the train tracks?

l.e. on 8th March 2013 @ 9:10am

I think you'll find the train tracks still tucked up under the bluff, very close to where they are now, kinda under his legs. The Corps map shows the area very well. What appears to be a slough, is actually Phelps Creek. 1922 on the flume, thanks Charlotte!

spinsur on 8th March 2013 @ 9:31am

After they retired, my great uncle, "Mid" Vaughan and his wife, "Peggy" Lovell Vaughan lived at Ruthton Point on her family property, near the bottom of the road down the hill.

Jeffrey Bryant on 8th March 2013 @ 5:35pm

From HR history compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon:

...The Haynes and Sanders families came to Hood River in 1872 and in partnership purchased a farm from John Marden, this farm being known from that time as the Haynes and Sanders place. It is now known as Ruthton. A more lonely isolated spot than this was, at that time would be hard to find. An almost perpendicular bluff four hundred feet high formed a barrier on the south, over this bluff a steep and dangerous trail led to the Hood River settlements above, on all other sides the Columbia River was their boundary.
The soil of the farm was fertile, water from the bluff afforded irrigation, the annual rise of the river gave them plenty of hay on their meadow land and industry and intelligent farming brought prosperity. Fruit, vegetables and livestock were soon ready for market. To reach this market they were compelled to travel by way of small boat up the Columbia River to the Backus landing, and there transfer their produce to the river boats.
In 1876 the state built a military road down the bluff from the settlement above, this road being a part of the State road planned from The Dalles to Portland. On account of the expense the building of the road was abandoned by the state, but what was done opened up a way for the two families to reach a market without the use of small boats. It also gave them access to school and a thriving neighborhood on the bluff above.

l.e. on 10th March 2013 @ 10:24pm

They grew tomatoes and from three fourths of an acre realized $700 dollars, from one peach tree they sold $35 worth of fruit, but later when their peach orchard came into bearing the trees were struck with blight and became a total loss. In the high water of 1876 they lost 2000 trees, these trees were young, having been bought of Chipman, the nurseryman, and would soon have made a fine orchard.

l.e. on 10th March 2013 @ 10:30pm

In 1859 John Marden filed a pre-emption claim on land about twenty miles east of the Cascades, on the south bank of the Columbia river. This land was formerly occupied by a warlike tribe of Indians under Chief Walluchian, the place being called Polally-Illahee, which in English means sand land. In later years it was given the name of Ruthton by a lumbering company that operated a planer on the place.